Integrating functional genomics, behavior, and health measures to mitigate the cumulative effects of in utero heat stress on swine welfare - the study objective is to identify, using functional…

The Agricultural Research Service awarded Purdue University a $195,810 cooperative agreement under the Agricultural Research Basic and Applied Research program (CFDA 10.001) from July 2021 through May 2025. The award will support research to identify sows most susceptible to producing offspring negatively impacted by in utero heat stress using functional genomics. Researchers will then evaluate the subsequent effects of in utero heat stress susceptibility on the health and behavior of pigs. By identifying susceptible sows and studying the downstream impacts on offspring, this research aims to mitigate the cumulative effects of in utero heat stress on swine welfare. The cooperative agreement mechanism and program focus on agricultural research discoveries, which this project advances through evaluating alternative approaches to assessing and addressing in utero heat stress impacts.

Integrating functional genomics, behavior, and health measures to mitigate the cumulative effects of in utero heat stress on swine welfare - the study objective is to identify, using functional genomics, which sows are most susceptible to producing offspring that suffer from the negative effects of in utero heat stress and then evaluate the subsequent effects of in utero heat stress susceptibility on the health and behavior of pigs.